November 17, 2016

Michael Dylan Welch has been curating SoulFood Poetry Night since starting it in 2006. He also curates readings for the Redmond Association of Spokenword and served two terms as poet laureate of Redmond, Washington. His poems, essays, and reviews have appeared in hundreds journals and anthologies in twenty languages. Michael cofounded the Haiku North America conference and the American Haiku Archives, and founded the Tanka Society of America and National Haiku Writing Month. His most recent book, with Tanya McDonald, is Seven Suns / Seven Moons, from NeoPoiesis Press, and before that, Becoming a Haiku Poet and Fire in the Treetops, both from Press Here. His website is www.graceguts.com.

Tanya McDonald is known for her love of chickens, haiku, bird-watching, drinking tea, and wearing bright colors. She lives with her husband and their orange cat in a house full of books in Woodinville, Washington, where she is busy working on a trio of young adult novels set in the Seattle area. Tanya is currently serving as the secretary of Haiku Northwest, enjoys teaching haiku workshops, and has published her haiku in a number of journals. Her new book is Seven Suns / Seven Moons, from NeoPoiesis Press. Her favorite place to get lost is in a library.